Broadcast receiving apparatus and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

A method for interacting with a graphical user interface (GUI) of a television operating in a step mode in which movement of a cursor among menu items displayed on the GUI is performed stepwise in accordance with a manipulation of a direction key of the remote controller, the method including receiving, by the television, from a remote controller a signal corresponding to spatial movement of the remote controller detected by the remote controller that instructs the television to switch from (i) the step mode to (ii) a position mode of the GUI in which the movement of the cursor among the menu items is performed in accordance with the spatial movement of the remote controller and switching from the step mode of the GUI to the position mode of the GUI based on the signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/118,858, filed on May 12, 2008, in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice, which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2007-0109807, filed on Oct. 30, 2007, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate toa broadcast receiving apparatus and a control method thereof, and moreparticularly, to a broadcast receiving apparatus which provides agraphical user interface (GUI) which a user is able to control using apointing device, and a control method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the use of a computer mouse as an input device for a personalcomputer (PC), pointing devices have become increasingly used to controlgraphical user interfaces (GUIs) of broadcast receiving apparatuses.Pointing devices may also be used to control televisions (TVs), andrecently, remote controllers additionally employing functions of apointing device, and methods for controlling a GUI of TV using theremote controller have been developed.

Methods for moving a pointer include a position method and a stepmethod. In the position method, the pointer continuously moves as thepointing device is moved, and in the step method, the pointer moves in aspecified direction according to the manipulation of up, down, right,and left direction keys. A mode in which the pointer operates in theposition method is referred to as a position mode, and a mode in whichthe pointer operates in the step method is referred to as a step mode.

When a GUI of a TV is displayed using icons, a remote controller used asa pointing device may operate in a position method so that a user mayconveniently manipulate the remote controller. However, when a relatedart GUI requiring manipulation by direction keys is displayed, thepointer does not move in a step method, and may, therefore, be lessconvenient for a user than a remote controller having direction keys. Ifa remote controller has functions of a pointing device and directionkeys, manufacturing costs increase, and a greater number of keys arerequired. Accordingly, user convenience is diminished.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention address at least theabove problems and/or disadvantages and other disadvantages notdescribed above. Also, the present invention is not required to overcomethe disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention may not overcome any of the problems described above.

The present invention provides a broadcast receiving apparatus whichreceives a movement pattern from a pointing device and operates using apattern function corresponding to the pattern in order to switch thepointing device between a position mode and a step mode without havingdirection keys, and a control method thereof.

The present invention also provides a pointing device which transmitsdirection signals appropriate for the step method by movement of thepointer, and a control method thereof.

According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for controlling a graphical user interface (GUI) of abroadcast receiving apparatus, comprising receiving movement informationfrom a pointing device; determining whether or not the movementinformation corresponds to a predetermined pattern; and if the movementinformation corresponds to the predetermined pattern, controlling thebroadcast receiving apparatus to perform a function corresponding to thepredetermined pattern.

The function may switch the GUI from a position mode to a step mode orvice versa.

The controlling may comprise receiving a function corresponding to apattern set by a user; storing the function set by the user to a memory;and reading the function set by the user from the memory.

According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for controlling a pointing device according to a usermovement, comprising sensing a user movement; determining whether or notthe user movement corresponds to a predetermined pattern; and if themovement corresponds to the predetermined pattern, performing a functioncorresponding to the predetermined pattern.

The pointing device may be a remote controller for a TV.

The function may transmit a direction signal according to the movement.

The function may switch the pointing device from a position mode to astep mode or vice versa.

The movement may be that the pointing device moves on a predeterminedangle in a space.

According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for controlling a GUI of a broadcast receivingapparatus, comprising receiving a selection command from a pointingdevice; determining whether or not the selection command selects agraphic object within the GUI; and if the selection command selects thegraphic object, switching the broadcast receiving apparatus between aposition mode and a step mode.

According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a broadcast receiving apparatus, comprising a display whichdisplays a received broadcast; a receiving unit which receives a userinput from a pointing device; and a control unit which controls thebroadcast receiving apparatus to perform a function corresponding to apredetermined pattern if the user input transmitted from the receivingunit corresponds to the predetermined pattern.

The function may switch the broadcast receiving apparatus between aposition mode and a step mode.

The apparatus may further comprise a memory which stores the functioncorresponding to the predetermined pattern set by the user.

According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a pointing device, comprising a sensor which senses movement ofthe pointing device; and a control unit which determines whether or notthe movement sensed by the sensor corresponds to a predeterminedpattern, and if the movement corresponds to the predetermined pattern,performs a function corresponding to the movement.

The function may transmit a command for moving one step in an up, down,right, or left direction.

The movement may be that the pointing device moves on a predeterminedangle in a space.

The pointing device may be a TV remote controller.

According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a broadcast receiving apparatus comprising a display whichdisplays a GUI; a receiving unit which receives a user input from apointing device; and a control unit which switches the broadcastreceiving apparatus between a position mode and a step mode if it isdetermined that a pointer selects a graphic object within the GUI thoughthe movement information received from the receiving unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will be moreapparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a broadcast receiving apparatusapplicable to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for controlling a GUI of abroadcast receiving apparatus using a pointing device applicable to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the pointing device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a pointingdevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a GUI of adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a GUI of adisplay apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, the same drawing reference numerals areused for the same elements even in different drawings. The mattersdefined in the description, such as detailed construction and elements,are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of theinvention. Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can becarried out without those specifically defined matters. Also, well-knownfunctions or constructions are not described in detail since they wouldobscure the invention with unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a broadcast receiving apparatusapplicable to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 1, a broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprise a broadcastsignal receiving unit 110, a signal processing unit 120, a speaker 130,a display 140, a memory 150, a command receiving unit 160, a graphicaluser interface (GUI) generating unit 170, and a control unit 180.

The broadcast signal receiving unit 110 may include a tuner (not shown)which tunes to a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcastingstation, and a demodulator (not shown) which demodulates the tunedbroadcast signal and corrects errors of the demodulated broadcastsignal.

The signal processing unit 120 may comprise a demultiplexing unit 121,an audio decoding unit 122, an audio processing unit 123, a videodecoding unit 124, and a video processing unit 125.

The demultiplexing unit 121 separates a broadcast signal demodulated bythe broadcast signal receiving unit 110 into additional data such asvideo data, audio data, and Program and System Information Protocol(PSIP) data, and outputs the separated data as bit streams.

The audio decoding unit 122 decodes audio data separated by thedemultiplexing unit 121, and outputs the decoded audio data. The audioprocessing unit 123 signal-processes audio data output from the audiodecoding unit 122 to meet the requirements of the speaker 130, andoutputs the signal-processed audio data to the speaker 130.

The video decoding unit 124 decodes video data separated by thedemultiplexing unit 121, and outputs the decoded video data. The videoprocessing unit 125 signal-processes the decoded video data to meet therequirements of the display 140, including the vertical frequency,resolution, and aspect ratio, and outputs the signal-processed videodata to the display 140.

The speaker 130 and display 140 output audio and video data receivedfrom the signal processing unit 120 as sound and video, respectively.

The command receiving unit 160 includes various keys for receiving usercommands input by a user, and a remote control receiving unit forreceiving user commands transmitted from a pointing device 190. Thecommand receiving unit 160 transmits a key signal corresponding to usercommands received through the keys or remote control receiving unit tothe control unit 180.

A user holds and moves a pointing device 200 to transmit movementinformation to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100.

The GUI generating unit 170 generates a pointer showing the movement ofthe pointing device 200 under the control of the control unit 180, and amenu or icon indicating the state of the broadcast receiving apparatus100. That is, the GUI generating unit 170 generates a GUI which receivesa user input, and a pointer which operates according to input from thepointing device 200.

The control unit 180 controls components of the broadcast receivingapparatus 100 to conduct functions according to a user command receivedthrough the command receiving unit 160, and may be embodied as a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or a central processing unit (CPU).

More specifically, if the pointing device 200 moves according to apredetermined pattern, the control unit 180 reads a functioncorresponding to the pattern from the memory 150, and performs thecorresponding function. For example, if the pointing device moves in apattern forming the shape of the number ‘8’, the control unit 180detects the movement corresponding to the pattern.

The corresponding function may switch the pointing device 200 between aposition mode and a step mode. The control unit 180 stores a patternfunction according to a user command in the memory 150. A positionmethod represents a method in which the pointer continuously moves whenthe pointing device 200 moves, and a step method represents a method inwhich the pointer moves in a specified direction when up, down, right,and left direction keys are manipulated, as explained above.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for controlling a GUI of abroadcast receiving apparatus using a pointing device applicable to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, a menu 102 isprovided as a GUI which is operated in a step method, and icons 104 areprovided as a GUI which is operated in a position method.

A pointer 300 receives a movement signal from the pointing device 200,and moves over the display 140 to select the menu 102 or icons 104. If auser selects a graphic object 106 within a GUI by placing the pointer300 on the graphic object 106, a GUI control mode is switched between aposition mode and a step mode. For example, when the broadcast receivingapparatus 100 is in a position mode, a GUI control mode is convertedinto a step mode according to the selection of the graphic object 106.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the pointing device of FIG. 2.

A motion sensor 202 senses movement of the pointing device 200 when auser holds and moves the pointing device 200.

A memory 208 stores information about pattern functions so that thepointing device 200 transmits the pattern functions corresponding to themovement of the pointing device 200 by the user.

A control signal transmission unit 206 transmits to the broadcastreceiving apparatus 100 a control signal transmitted from a control unit204, which will be explained below. The control unit 204 determineswhether movement information received from the motion sensor 202corresponds to a predetermined pattern. If it is determined that themovement information corresponds to a predetermined pattern, the controlunit 204 reads a function corresponding to the predetermined patternfrom the memory 208, and transmits the function to the broadcastreceiving apparatus 100 through the control signal transmission unit206. On the other hand, if it is determined that the movementinformation does not correspond to a predetermined pattern, the controlunit 204 transmits the movement information to the broadcast receivingapparatus 100.

The pattern may be a circle drawn by the pointing device 200, and thefunction corresponding to the pattern may be that the pointer moves onestep.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a pointingdevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.The control unit 204 senses movement of the pointing device 200 (S402),and determines whether the sensed movement corresponds to apredetermined pattern (S404). If it is determined that the sensedmovement corresponds to a predetermined pattern, the control unit 204reads a function corresponding to the pattern from the memory 208(S406), and performs the read function (S410).

If it is determined that the sensed movement does not correspond to apredetermined pattern, the control unit 204 transmits informationregarding the movement to a receiving unit (S412). For example, thepattern may be that the pointing device 200 draws the shape of thenumber ‘8’ in a space, and the function corresponding to the pattern maybe that the pointing device 200 transmits a signal corresponding to thedirection keys to the receiving unit. Alternatively, the functioncorresponding to the pattern may be switching between a position modeand a step mode, in which the pointing device 200 may be converted fromthe position mode to the step mode.

FIG. 5 is flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a GUI of adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The control unit 180 receives movement information from thepointing device 200 through the command receiving unit 160 (S502), anddetermines whether the received movement information corresponds to apredetermined pattern (S504).

If it is determined that the movement information corresponds to apredetermined pattern, the control unit 180 reads a functioncorresponding to the pattern (S506), and performs the function (S510).If it is determined that the movement information does not correspond toa predetermined pattern, the control unit 180 controls the GUIgenerating unit 170 so that a pointer moves over the display 140according to the movement of the pointing device 200 (S512).

For example, a pattern may be that the pointing device 200 draws theshape of the number ‘8’ in a space, and the function corresponding tothe pattern may be switching between a position mode and a step mode.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a GUI of adisplay device according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

If a selection command is received from the pointing device 200 (S602),the control unit 180 determines whether the selection command selectsthe graphic object 106 within the GUI (S604).

If it is determined that the graphic object 106 is selected by theselection command, the control unit 180 of the broadcast receivingapparatus switches a GUI between a position mode and a step mode (S606).For example, if the control device 180 receives a selection command fromthe pointing device 200 while a pointer is positioned on an icon (icon106 of FIG. 2) for switching between a position mode and a step mode,the icon is selected. If the icon is selected, a GUI mode of thebroadcast receiving apparatus 100 is switched between a position modeand a step mode.

While a position mode and a step mode are described as the GUI modes inthe exemplary embodiments of the present invention described above, thisshould not be considered limiting. The present invention mayalternatively be applied to available mode switching. A functioncorresponding to the pattern may be various functions of the broadcastreceiving apparatus 100.

When a broadcast receiving apparatus receives functions corresponding toa pattern from a pointing device to control a GUI, mode switching isefficiently performed using the pointing device instead of directionkeys.

The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely exemplaryand are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. Thepresent teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses.Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope ofthe claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for interacting with a graphical userinterface (GUI) of a television operating in a step mode in whichmovement of a cursor among menu items displayed on the GUI is performedstepwise in accordance with a manipulation of a direction key of theremote controller, the method comprising: receiving, by the television,from a remote controller a signal corresponding to spatial movement ofthe remote controller detected by the remote controller that instructsthe television to switch from (i) the step mode to (ii) a position modeof the GUI in which the movement of the cursor among the menu items isperformed in accordance with the spatial movement of the remotecontroller; and switching from the step mode of the GUI to the positionmode of the GUI based on the signal.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving a subsequent signal that indicates subsequentspatial movement of the remote controller; determining whether thesubsequent spatial movement corresponds to a predetermined pattern; andperforming, by the television, a function associated with thepredetermined pattern in the position mode in response to determiningthe spatial movement corresponds to the predetermined pattern.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the television, aselection input to select one of the menu items displayed on the GUIfrom the remote controller; switching, by the television, to the stepmode of the GUI based on the received selection input.
 4. Anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium having embodiedthereon a program which when executed causes a television to execute amethod for interacting with a graphical user interface (GUI) of thetelevision operating in a step mode in which movement of a cursor amongmenu items displayed on the GUI is performed stepwise in accordance witha manipulation of a direction key of the remote controller, the methodcomprising: receiving, by the television, from a remote controller asignal corresponding to spatial movement of the remote controllerdetected by the remote controller that instructs the television toswitch from (i) the step mode to (ii) a position mode of the GUI inwhich the movement of the cursor among the menu items is performed inaccordance with the spatial movement of the remote controller; andswitching from the step mode of the GUI to the position mode of the GUIbased on the signal.
 5. The non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises: receiving asubsequent signal that indicates subsequent spatial movement of theremote controller; determining whether the subsequent spatial movementcorresponds to a predetermined pattern; and performing, by thetelevision, a function associated with the predetermined pattern in theposition mode in response to determining the spatial movementcorresponds to the predetermined pattern.
 6. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium of claim 4, wherein the methodfurther comprises: receiving, by the television, a selection input toselect one of the menu items displayed on the GUI from the remotecontroller; switching, by the television, to the step mode of the GUIbased on the received selection input.
 7. A television operating in astep mode in which movement of a cursor among menu items displayed onthe GUI is performed stepwise in accordance with a manipulation of adirection key of a remote controller, the television comprising: acommunication unit configured to receive from the remote controller asignal corresponding to spatial movement of the remote controllerdetected by the remote controller; and a controller configured tocontrol the television to switch from (i) the step mode to (ii) aposition mode of the GUI in which the movement of the cursor among themenu items is performed in accordance with the spatial movement of theremote controller based on the spatial movement corresponding to thesignal.
 8. The television of claim 7, wherein the communication unit isfurther configured to receive a subsequent signal that indicatessubsequent spatial movement of the remote controller, and wherein thecontroller is further configured to determine whether the subsequentspatial movement corresponds to a predetermined pattern and perform afunction associated with the predetermined pattern in the position modein response to determining the spatial movement corresponds to thepredetermined pattern.
 9. The television of claim 7, wherein thecommunication unit is further configured to receive a selection input toselect one of the menu items displayed on the GUI from the remotecontroller, and wherein the controller is further configured to switchto the step mode of the GUI based on the received selection input.
 10. Amethod for interacting with a graphical user interface (GUI) of atelevision, the method comprising: receiving, by a television, from aremote controller a signal corresponding to spatial movement of theremote controller detected by the remote controller that instructs thetelevision to switch from (i) a step mode of the GUI in which movementof a cursor among menu items displayed on the GUI is performed stepwisein accordance with a manipulation of a direction key of the pointingdevice to (ii) a position mode of the GUI in which the movement of thecursor among the menu items is performed in accordance with the spatialmovement of the pointing device; and switching from the step mode of theGUI to the position mode of the GUI based on the signal.